The Arbour

The Arbour Youth Centre is an independent registered charity (No. 303238). It was established by St. Dunstan and All Saints Church in Stepney after World War II as a response to the local social and economic deprivation. The Centre started its activities in 1953, became a registered charity in 1967 and has been working in the Tower Hamlets area for more than 50 years

The Arbour is a unique place where children, young people and parents become empowered, and feel supported, actively involved and listened to. All project activities and projects are designed in consultation with our members. The Centre provides opportunities for leisure and educational activities, volunteer work, advice, counselling services and one-on-one support.

Our women’s project works with women newly arrived in the UK; supporting participants during their crucial first year here, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to tackle barriers to education and employment and increase their access to services, and providing a space for women to make friends and form self-supporting groups. We seek to empower women to have greater control over their own lives. Integration needs to be a two-way process and we therefore seek to involve the local community in the process. Our mentoring scheme involves volunteer mentors from the local community working on a 1:1 basis with project participants to provide 1:1 personalised support to women during their first year and provide an opportunity for them to practice their English in everyday situations.